DOVER — The 33rd annual Ozark Memories Day sponsored by the Dover Area Chamber of Commerce will be “looking back” on the past as it celebrates its future on Saturday starting at 6:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast.

Earl Schrock, Ozark Memories Day publicity chairman, said the festival was started to remember Dover’s past.

“It was started 33 years ago as an attempt to interest people into the history of the area,” Schrock said. “Dover was originally the county seat of Pope County and when the railroad came through Dover tried to get it, but it went through Russellville instead — and that kind of pulled all the commerce into Russellville. In subsequent years, the county seat went to Russellville (as well). This is one of the oldest towns — it is much, much older than Russellville. It was just an attempt to get people interested in the history.”

Schrock said the festival will honor W.D. ‘Doak’ Eakes, a person vital to Dover’s start who also served as postmaster for 24 years.

“The theme of this year’s Ozark Memories Day is “Looking Back,” and when we look back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, we can see that the same spirit prevailed,” he said. “A good example of that spirit could be found in W. D. “Doak” Eakes. When support was needed to ensure that the railroad would come through Dover, when pledges were needed to get a newspaper established in Dover, when the town needed to be rebuilt after the big fire in 1930, one of the people who was always called upon was Doak Eakes.”

Schrock said one of the festival highlights is the antique car contest and show. The contest begins at 11 a.m. and will feature cars from three categories including 1930 and earlier (Ragtime Music Era), 1931-50 (Big Band Era) and 1951 and later (Rock and Roll era). A parade of the vehicles begins at 10 a.m. First place entry in the parade will receive $1,000 and second-place will receive $50. Individuals, groups or organizations wishing to have an entry in the parade can contact Van or Ginni Tyson at 641-2688.

Also on Saturday, the festival will have many all-day activities including entertainment, food, craft and demonstration booths, a bump-and-jump and petting zoo. Various adult, teen and children’s games will also be available, as well as old-fashioned games such as log toss and skillet toss.